Sights · 20 of the best in Sri Lanka
Geoffrey Bawa and the architecture of Sri Lanka, the back story
The back story
About Geoffrey Bawa and the architecture of Sri Lanka, the back story
Geoffrey Bawa (1919–2003) is Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architect, and his buildings, open to the breeze and the garden, defined a style known as tropical modernism.
The architect
Geoffrey Bawa trained as a lawyer before turning to architecture. His buildings blur the line between inside and outside, with courtyards, verandahs, pools and gardens, and use local materials and craftsmanship.
In Colombo
In Colombo you can eat in his former office, now The Gallery Café, see the Seema Malaka he redesigned on Beira Lake, and visit Number 11, his town house, by appointment.
With Bawa, the walls fall away and the garden becomes part of the room.
Lunuganga
His country estate at Lunuganga, near Bentota, was a lifelong project: a garden landscape over a lake, where he experimented with views and paths. His brother Bevis created the Brief Garden nearby.
Our advice: if architecture interests you, plan a Bawa day: The Gallery Café in Colombo, then Lunuganga near Bentota, and check visiting times before you go.
Why it's on our list
- Who was Bawa
- Open to the garden
- In Colombo
- Lunuganga
- His hotels
- His legacy
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Geoffrey Bawa and the architecture of Sri Lanka, the back story before you go.